Changing Havanese Habits

If you live in a cold climate and are rather allergic to the cold or shovelling yourself, you may have found your dogs going on your deck vs. the place you want them to. We dig paths etc but still if it is raining too hard or its bitter cold, like humans, they don't want to go out. They go to the first place and try to get back in.

Now that the weather is getting warmer, its time to correct them to go to the area you want. Carry them at first especially if their bladders are about to burst after a long night and tell then to 'get busy' and praise. Keep doing it and then try to just let them get there on their own even with you going out. If they do make it to that area - wow praise and keep at it to make sure it wasn't a one day thing. If they fail to get it, start again and keep at it. They will.

This is the Fiona running down the stairs for her morning - I got to get outside, mommy.

We have a busy week. Today - if weather allows, mommy is going to wash Abs with a new product to see how it feels on her. Zach gets washed on Friday when he goes to his new home. The rest will come here and there.

We have handling Tuesday and Wednesday night. We have obedience on Thursday and a long weekend that I don't get as I work for an American company. Then we have shows coming up soon. Stack, stack, stack and heel.

Looks like rain today..sigh...and Alex is coming to visit. How cool is that and Katsuro is waiting at the door - since last night, I might add.

More later.>>

Early morning antics at Talemakers. Whitney, our old lady retriever had a bath and now its Terra's turn when I have the energy.

We have a busy day. The car died so human daddy has to go pick that up today. We have handling classes with Fiona and Abigail. Human daddy has a business meeting. We have to empty a pool house as the pool people are coming this week. We have training to do with Chico, Abs and Fiona and the rest of the crew.

I also have a late night with 'Dancing With the Stars' results and 'Idol' and yep I made that 4am wake up to do a killer plyo. Sleep was not good so maybe a nap today if work is not too much.

Remind me not to take a siesta from exercise. It's awful finding the energy to get back into it but I must. I look at that reflection in teh window while exercising and validate all that sweat and exhaustion that comes. I need to figure out how to get the dogs to exercise at the same time. Ideas - anyone?

Fiona, Abs and Katsuro got up with me. They loved the fan blowing on them while I exercised. I practiced commands with them as you can if you do not have the chunk of time to train them. It's best that way as you incorporate training into real life and end up reinforcing. Remember NO FREE TREATS - make them work for it even with a sit or a down or a by me - anything but don't give it away for free. You will end up being happier with the results and they will enjoy it as well.

More later as the day goes on.>>

Show Day & Then Relax

It was such a productive day for Chico, Fiona and Coach in class last night, Keep up the training and we will kick ahem next week. :-)

Today is the 1st show for the Miss Abs. We got up at 4am and bathed her and an hour and 15 minutes later, daddy was keeping Chico away from her so she wouldn't get messy or dirty. So, she's out sitting with me while Daddy is getting food ready for the clan. Me, I am about to take a shower and then get on the road.

I had to work till almost midnight then up at 4am - yeouch. Needless to say, I am ever so tired.

Then we will come back from the show and get Wasabi washed and relaxed - we think all to start again with packing, organizing, cleaning etc for the next day. Never thought I would say, can't wait till Monday. heh

Havanese Learn From Others

Dawgs often pick up on habits of another that lives or plays with them. Fiona was the back of the couch dawg always and here Miss Abs has found her way to the high side.

Hopefully they learn 'good' habits vs. the ones you don't want or you will be correcting both.

We had our practice session with commands. What have you done today? Just a simple sit or stay or come or? Something...will make a difference.

Training Creates an Amazing Bond

So What's Your Motivation?
Well, each of us can think up a million excuses why we shouldn't but by training your dog, you will create a bond like none other. Your dog will listen to you, be well behaved and your friends will be in awe at how smart your dog is. Everyone loves a well behaved dog. It's really worth it to invest the time as what you get back will make you truly proud and give you a relationship with your dog that is strong and if allowed - amazing!

Dogs are failthful. They give their hearts to you and Havanese are natural people pleasers. Use that natural ability to have fun with it and you will like the results as long as you are relatively consistent with it.

We started training the pups and started trianing the older ones and even though it had been a long time since they had a daily regiment of five or ten minutes here and there of a refresher, it was amazing how good they still are in responding to hand and voice commands.

You should find ways to introduce all learned commands into daily living and that way you reinforce the commands throughout their lives.

This is a worthwhile journey to take and all it takes is 5 to 10 minutes a day and one on one bonding time with your Havanese.

Take a class and learn all sorts of tricks to get your Havanese to do what you need them to and follow along here and watch our journey with our pups.

Here's what we are doing with our Havanese pups. What are you doing?